330 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. X. 



proper worked in relief and in open-work, both faces being decorated 

 alike. The two combatant dragons of geometric mould have their 

 raised front-paws intertwined. The figure of a bat resting on cloud- 

 patterns is cut out in open-work below to furnish the character fu to 

 be read together with the ornamental form of shou above, as "good 

 luck and long life." In the right and left upper corners two coiled 

 hydras are joined in a jour carving. The central plaque is framed 

 by two conventionalized figures of elephants on the upper edge and two 

 rampant hydras on the sides, interlacing their tails along the lower 

 edge. The picture of a pine-tree with a stag and the fungus of immor- 

 tality is engraved on the front face, and that of a pine-tree with a garden- 

 pavilion (t'ing) and sea-waves below it and a crane on the wing on the 

 opposite face. 



The upper brooches from which these gongs are suspended are of 

 the same type as the girdle-ornaments, and the piece in the present 

 specimen particularly recalls to mind the head-piece in the ancient 

 girdle-pendants . 



The gong on Plate LVIII consisting of two plaques is carved from 

 rock-crystal ; the two carvings are connected by silver chains with hooks 

 formed into figures of bats and are suspended by means of a silver hook 

 from a blackwood frame. The shape and decorations of this gong are 

 identical with the preceding one of jade ; also here the same designs are 

 cut out in relief on both faces, a task which requires more care and 

 trouble in the translucent crystal than in jade. The ornamental lines 

 on the one face must exactly coincide with those on the opposite face, 

 as otherwise the latter would be apt to shine through, and to disturb 

 the harmony of the design. The skill and accuracy of the Chinese 

 worker in crystal is most admirable in this respect. 



This one as well as the previous jade gongs are all works of the 

 K'ien-lung period and fine specimens characteristic of the high accom- 

 plishments of the glyptic art of that period. 



On Plate LIX, a jade resonant stone and a perforated disk (kung 

 pi) of the same gray jade are represented, suspended from wooden 

 stands (70.5 cm high) with a base shaped into a calabash (hu-lu), the 

 symbol of fertility and numerous progeny (because of its many seeds). 

 This is the way in which these objects are mounted and fixed up, when 

 given as presents among officials, and in which they are set up as decora- 

 tive objects in the mansion, adorned with vari-colored silken tassels. 

 The sonorous jade (17.5 cm X 5-7 cm) has preserved its wedge-shape of 

 old. Four dragons in full figure are carved along the upper and lateral 

 sides, and the figure of a fish below, yii "the fish" standing. for yii 

 "abundance," the whole ornament reading ki kHng yu yii, "Luck, 



